"No, not like magic. I mean, it wasn't there the night before, but the next day, there it was."

Vincente waited, watching Ira as the boy looked increasingly more thoughtful. Then, after a while, he asked: "Why d'you think detectives always have someone to solve mysteries with? They're probably clever enough to do it without them, aren't they?"

"I think it depends on the detective and the friend," Vincente speculated. "I think Holmes brings Watson around because they are just that, you know - best friends. Art's my best friend, too. I like to have Art around because he's also pretty clever - he always has questions to ask to me, and his questions make me think, too. He sees the things I don't, I see what he doesn't, and he always reminds me of things. It's very cool, you know."

LaReAn omnivorous reader with a strangely retentive memory for trifles.